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A smiling white-haired grandmother brushes a contented Siamese cat lying on a wooden step outside her back door. 12 / 36

Miso Acts Independent All Day. Then Grandma Edie Picks Up the Brush.

AI imagesiamese catgroomingback steps

Miso has stretched out long and low on the wooden step, and every stroke of the brush makes her eyes go a little softer. Grandma Edie sits beside her in a sage quilted vest and a pale sweater, smiling down through her glasses as she runs a natural-bristle brush along the cat's back. Miso's cream body and dark chocolate legs and tail are spread across the boards in a pose of total trust. Behind them, the back door stands open, a basket of rags sits on the steps, a pair of slippers and a blue cloth wait by the door, and a metal watering can sits among the potted greens.

Siamese cats have short, fine coats that shed lightly and are easy to care for. A weekly brushing with a soft brush or grooming mitt is usually plenty to remove loose hair and keep the coat glossy. Brushing also gives you a chance to check for lumps, fleas, or skin changes, and many cats come to love it as bonding time. Keep sessions short and stop when the cat seems done; tail swishing or twitching skin are signs to take a break. Older cats may need more help grooming, so regular brushing becomes even more helpful with age.

Miso may act independent much of the day, but here she is, melted into a puddle on the back step. Some routines are less about grooming and more about saying, without words, that you are each other's favorite.

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A white-haired grandmother plays an old upright piano while a Siamese cat sits beside her on the wooden bench.Grandma Edie Sat Down at the Old Piano. Her Duet Partner Was Already on the Bench.A white-haired grandmother works on a wooden fence while a Siamese cat sits beside her holding a small twig in its mouth.Grandma Edie Was Fixing the Old Fence. Miso Showed Up With Her Own Tool.A smiling white-haired grandmother at a lace-covered table with tea and cookies as a Siamese cat rests its paws on the table.The Lace Tablecloth Was Out, the Cookies Were Plated, and Then Miso Stood UpA white-haired grandmother sits in a wooden rocking chair looking down at a Siamese cat asleep on a knit blanket.Grandma Edie Loves Her Old Rocking Chair, but Tonight She Rocked Very, Very Gently